Trojans close out first semester with big win
CALGARY, ALTA., (Dec. 1, 2018) — For the second time in less than 24 hours, the SAIT Trojans men's basketball team simply dominated.
A 20-0 run to start the game signaled the end early, as the Trojans cruised to a 104-59 victory over the visiting Briercrest College Clippers in their Saturday afternoon Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference (ACAC) matinee affair played at SAIT's Campus Centre.
"We haven't played too many back-to-back games this year, but that's how it will be the entire second half of the season, so to perform at a high level this weekend was great," said Trojans head coach Marty Birky, whose team also beat the Clippers 112-73 on Friday. "If we want to play well at the Conference Championship, and Nationals if we get there, we are going to have to get used to playing, resting and then playing again."
SAIT, ranked No. 1 in the country by the Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA), finish the first half of the season a perfect 10-0.
"Our strong start has been good; any time you can win in our league, you have to take it," added Birky. "We just have to focus on staying healthy now."
Many of the Trojans wins this season have been lopsided. In fact, their average margin of victory in their 10 games this season is 26.3 – the most coming in today's 45-point win, the closest a 12-point victory over Ambrose University on Nov. 2.
"When you try and put a squad together, ours has it all – fire power, flash, but also some grit," Birky stated. "I didn't think we shot the ball well today, but we had it going on the defensive end with steals and turnovers, so it didn't really matter."
Briercrest College falls to 2-8.
Enoque Michel (1st year, Montreal, Graphic Communications and Print Technology) led all scorers with 25 points in just 13 minutes of work.
Teammate Ian Tevis (5th year, Kent, Wash., Office Professional) was just two assists shy of a triple-double, recording 12 points, 16 rebounds and eight assists.
When all was said and done, 11 of the 12 players who entered the game on Saturday scored.
Birky knows depth was his team's issue at last year's CCAA National Championship, so seeing the scoring spread around was a good thing.
"We learned from last year, so we're trying to get everyone minutes and reps," said Birky.
Brolin Simes led the Clippers with 14 points.
The Trojans will return to action in the new year, when they meet Red Deer College in a home-and-home series on Jan. 11 and 12.
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